That's not a question that you can answer either/or,there are MIM Strats that sound phenominal right out of the box just as there are MIAs that don't quite cut it.I wish people would give up believing this urban legend that MIMs are not up to scratch.I have 3 MIM Fenders-2 Strats and a Tele and each one is a great guitar and needs no mods at all except for regular string changes.What it all boils down to is what has been said here many many times-buy the guitar that suits you the best.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.